Courses in Philosophy (PHIL)

PHIL 001 -
Intro Phil: Selected Problems

Introduction to philosophy through such fundamental problems as the existence of God, the basis of morality, and the possibility of knowledge. Credit not given for more than one of PHIL 001, PHIL 003, and PHIL 004.

Credits: 3.00

PHIL 003 -
D2:Intro Philosophy: East&West

Introduction to the historical dialetic of philosophy by comparisons and contrasts between Chinese and Western traditions of philosophy. Credit not given for more than one of PHIL 001, PHIL 003, and PHIL 004.

Credits: 3.00

PHIL 004 -
Intro to Philosophy: Ethics

Introduction to philosophy through an analysis of the principal problems and theories of ethics. Credit not given for more than one of PHIL 001, PHIL 003, and PHIL 004.

Credits: 3.00

PHIL 013 -
Introduction to Logic

Study of the basic principles of deductive inference.

Credits: 3.00

PHIL 095 -
Special Topics

See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.

Credits: 3.00

PHIL 096 -
Special Topics

See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.

Credits: 3.00

PHIL 101 -
History of Ancient Philosophy

Study of the works of the Pre-Socratics, Plato, Aristotle, and their successors. Prerequisite: One Philosophy course.

Credits: 3.00

PHIL 102 -
History of Modern Philosophy

Study of works of the major philosophers of the 17th and 18th centuries: Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Locke, Berkeley, Hume, Kant, and others. Prerequisite: One Philosophy course.

Credits: 3.00

PHIL 108 -
Plato

A survey of Plato's works, including the "early," "middle," and parts of the "late" dialogues. Emphasis will be laid on reading the dialogues themselves. Prerequisite: One course in Philosophy or in Classics (Greek culture or Greek). Cross-listed with: CLAS 161.

Credits: 3.00

PHIL 111 -
Philosophy of Mind

Inquiry into such topics as consciousness, the relation between the mental (beliefs, sensations, etc.) and the physical (chemicals, neurons, etc.) and how minds represent things. Prerequisite: One course in Philosophy or Instructor permission.

Credits: 3.00

PHIL 112 -
Philosophy of Science

Introduction to major philosophical problems raised by science. Typical topics: the nature of scientific inference, the structure of theories, causation, explanation, and scientific change. Prerequisite: One course in Philosophy or two courses in any natural science.

Credits: 3.00

PHIL 118 -
Metaphysics

A study of such topics as vagueness, the nature of time, persistence of objects and people through change and whether numbers or properties exist. Prerequisite: One Philosophy course.

Credits: 3.00

PHIL 120 -
Phil of Cognitive Science

An examination of philosophical issues concerning the nature of the human mind raised by the cognitive sciences (psychology, computer science, linguistics, and neuroscience). Prerequisite: One course in Philosophy or Instructor permission (students with relevant background are encouraged to seek permission).

Credits: 3.00

PHIL 121 -
D2: Chinese Philosophy I

Study of the Classical Schools of Chinese thought, including Confucianism, Taoism, Mohism, and Legalism. Prerequisite: One course in Philosophy, Religion, or Asian Studies.

Credits: 3.00

PHIL 130 -
Phil Foundations of Education

Critical examination of the aims of education and the most appropriate means of achieving those aims. Readings from historical and contemporary sources. Prerequisite: One Philosophy course.

Credits: 3.00

PHIL 135 -
Philosophy of Religion

Typical topics: the nature of religion, the concept of God, the grounds for belief in God, mortality, truth, and revelation. Historical and contemporary sources. Prerequisite: One Philosophy course.

Credits: 3.00

PHIL 140 -
Social & Political Philosophy

Examination of some major figures in the history of social and political philosophy, focusing on issues such as political obligation, rights, property, and justice. Prerequisite: One Philosophy course.

Credits: 3.00

PHIL 142 -
Philosophy of Law I

Analysis of the nature of law, the relation between law and morality, legal obligation, and the judicial decision. Prerequisite: One Philosophy course or POLS 041. Cross-listed with: POLS 143.

Such issues as the physician-patient relationship, allocation of organs for transplantation, reproductive assistance technology and genetic engineering, the justice of the health-care delivery system. Prerequisite: One Philosophy course.

Credits: 3.00

PHIL 145 -
Killing Things

It is sometimes morally permissible to kill things: you can kill a mosquito biting you, for example. What else is permissible to kill? When? Prerequisite: One Philosophy course or Instructor permission.

Credits: 3.00

PHIL 151 -
Phil Ideas in Literature

Philosophical themes as exemplified in literature. Prerequisite: One Philosophy course.

Credits: 3.00

PHIL 152 -
Philosophy of Art

A consideration of some leading theories of art, and their application to problems of art as they appear in music, literature, painting, and in the general criticism of the arts. Prerequisite: One Philosophy course.

Credits: 3.00

PHIL 153 -
Philosophy and Film

An examination of style in film from the perspective of philosophical aesthetics, and of the ways film style can be used to express philosophical themes. Prerequisite: One Philosophy course.

Credits: 3.00

PHIL 160 -
Continental Philosophy

An explanation of such movements in Continental philosophy as phenomenology, existentialism, and structuralism and such figures as Husserl, Heidegger, Sartre, and Foucault. Prerequisite: One Philosophy course.

Credits: 3.00

PHIL 170 -
Feminism:Theories and Issues

Theories of libertarianism, liberalism, and egalitarianism; application to the analysis and evaluation of social issues of contemporary interest, such as abortion and affirmative action. Prerequisite: One course in Philosophy. Cross-listed with: WGST 151.

Credits: 3.00

PHIL 195 -
Intermediate Special Topics

See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.

Credits: 3.00

PHIL 196 -
Intermediate Special Topics

See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.

Credits: 3.00

PHIL 197 -
Readings & Research

Credits: 3.00

PHIL 198 -
Readings & Research

Credits: 3.00

PHIL 205 -
Seminar:Maj Phil Author/School

Study of major philosophical texts by a single author or school of thought. May be repeated for credit when different authors are studied. Prerequisite: One Philosophy course at 100-level.

Credits: 3.00

PHIL 208 -
Kant

An examination of issues in the philosophy of Immanuel Kant. Prerequisite: One Philosophy course at the 100-level.

Credits: 3.00

PHIL 211 -
Phil of Mind:Advanced Topics

In-depth study of topics like consciousness, the relation between the mental (belief, sensations, etc.) and the physical (chemicals, neurons, etc.) and how minds represent things. Prerequisite: One Philosophy course at the 100-level.

Credits: 3.00

PHIL 215 -
Free Will

In this course we will explore whether we have genuine free will, and, if not, how this should affect our views about morality, justice and the meaning of life. Prerequisite: One Philosophy course at the 100-level.

Credits: 3.00

PHIL 216 -
The Self

An examination of the nature of the self. We will explore the implications of divided consciousness and ask what makes one the same person over time. Prerequisites: One Philosophy course at 100-level.

Credits: 3.00

PHIL 217 -
Philosophy of Language

Philosophical study of the nature of language. Prerequisite: One Philosophy course at 100-level. Recommended: PHIL 013.

Credits: 3.00

PHIL 218 -
Metaphysics:Advanced Topics

In-depth study of such topics as vagueness, the nature of time, persistence of objects and people through change, and whether numbers or properties exist. Prerequisite: One Philosophy course at the 100-level.

Credits: 3.00

PHIL 219 -
Epistemology:Advanced Topics

In-depth study of select topics concerning theories of knowledge and related concepts such as belief, truth, rationality, evidence, perception, and memory. Prerequisite: One Philosophy course at the 100-level.

Advanced study of such issues as the metaphysics of religion, the epistemology of religious belief, philosophy and faith, religion and science, and religion and ethics. (May be repeated for credit when topic is significantly different and with departmental approval.) Prerequisite: PHIL 101, PHIL 102 or PHIL 135.

Credits: 3.00

PHIL 240 -
Contemporary Ethical Theory

In-depth study of metaethics, emphasizing recent work. Topics include moral objectivity, moral language, moral epistemology, and the relationship between morality and reasons. Pre/co-requisites: One Philosophy course at the 100-level.

Credits: 3.00

PHIL 241 -
Contemp Social&Political Phil

The ideas of leading contemporary philosophers concerning freedom, tolerance, economic justice, international relations, and the relationship between the individual, the community and the state. Prerequisite: PHIL 140, PHIL 142, PHIL 143, or PHIL 144.

Study of a central issue in current continental philosophy, e.g. social theory, psychoanalysis, or aesthetics. Readings from Nietzsche, Heidegger, Gadamer, Ricoeur, Habermas, Derrida, and Foucault. Prerequisites: Any course in Philosophy at the 100 level or above, or Instructor permission. May be repeated for credit when topic is significantly different. Pre/co-requisites: One Philosophy course at the 100-level.

Credits: 3.00

PHIL 295 -
Advanced Special Topics

See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.

Credits: 4.00

PHIL 296 -
Advanced Special Topics

See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.

Credits: 3.00

PHIL 297 -
Adv Readings & Research

Independent study with an instructor on a specific philosopher or philosophical problem. Prerequisite: An appropriate 200-level course in philosophy.

Credits: 3.00

PHIL 298 -
Adv Readings & Research

Independent study with an instructor on a specific philosopher or philosophical problem. Prerequisite: An appropriate 200-level course in philosophy.